Acetazolamide
Brand names: DIAMOX
Therapeutic Indications
Acetazolamide is indicated for:
Prophylaxis of mounting to high altitude
Irrespective of gender only Adults (18 - 65 years old)
Acetazolamide is suitable for altitude sickness prevention and treatment. Acetazolamide is the superior drug for acute mountain sickness prevention due to its proven efficacy over the years in a large number of trials with an acceptable side-effect profile.
For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):
Treatment 1: Oral - 250mg before climbing a mountain
Secondary or acute narrow angle glaucoma
Irrespective of gender only Adults (18 years old or older)
Acetazolamide is an enzyme inhibitor which acts specifically on carbonic anhydrase. Acetazolamide is useful in glaucoma (chronic simple (open angle) glaucoma, secondary glaucoma and perioperatively in acute angle closure glaucoma where delay of surgery is desired in order to lower intraocular pressure) because it acts on inflow, decreasing the amount of aqueous secretion.
For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):
Treatment 1: Oral - 250mg/4h or 12 hours
Treatment 2: Oral - 500 mg once and then 125-500 mg/4h
Treatment 3: Intravenous - 250-1000mg per 24 hours
Chronic simple glaucoma (open angle)
Irrespective of gender only Adults (18 years old or older)
Acetazolamide is an enzyme inhibitor which acts specifically on carbonic anhydrase. It is indicated in the treatment of glaucoma. Acetazolamide is useful in glaucoma (chronic simple (open angle) glaucoma, secondary glaucoma and perioperatively in acute angle closure glaucoma where delay of surgery is desired in order to lower intraocular pressure) because it acts on inflow, decreasing the amount of aqueous secretion.
For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):
Treatment 1: Oral - 250-1000mg per 24 hours
Epilepsy
Irrespective of gender only Adults (18 years old or older)
Acetazolamide is indicated for the treatment of epilepsy.
For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):
Treatment 1: Oral - 250-1000 mγ in 4 divided doses daily
Treatment 2: Oral - 8-30mg/kg/24h in divided doses
Treatment 3: Intravenous - 8-30 mg/kg in 2 divided doses daily
Congestive heart failure oedema, drug induced oedema
Irrespective of gender only Adults (18 years old or older)
Acetazolamide is indicated in the treatment of congestive heart failure, drug-induced oedema.
For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):
Treatment 1: Oral - 250-375mg once daily in the morning
Epilepsy
Irrespective of gender only Minors (0 - 18 years old)
Acetazolamide is indicated for the treatment of epilepsy.
For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):
Treatment 1: Oral - 20-40 mg/kg in 4 divided doses daily
Treatment 2: Intravenous - 8-30 mg/kg in 4 divided doses daily
Contraindications
Active ingredient Acetazolamide is contraindicated in the following cases:
Marked renal impairment
No gender/age discrimination
Acetazolamide is contra-indicated in marked renal impairment.
Marked liver dysfunction
No gender/age discrimination
Acetazolamide is contraindicated in marked liver dysfunction.
Suprarenal gland failure
No gender/age discrimination
Acetazolamide is contra-indicated in suprarenal gland failure.
Depressed levels of sodium
No gender/age discrimination
Acetazolamide is contraindicated in situations in which sodium blood levels are depressed.
Depressed levels of potassium
No gender/age discrimination
Acetazolamide is contraindicated in situations in which potassium blood levels are depressed.
Pregnancy
No gender/age discrimination
Acetazolamide has been reported to be teratogenic and embryotoxic in rats, mice, hamsters and rabbits at oral or parenteral doses in excess of ten times those recommended in human beings. Although there is no evidence of these effects in human beings, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Therefore, acetazolamide should not be used in pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.
Hyper-chloremic acidosis
No gender/age discrimination
Acetazolamide is contraindicated in hyper-chloremic acidosis.